Ditching-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. H. KERSEY. DITGHING MACHINE.

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(No Model.) 3 ShetB-Sheet 2.

R. H. KERSBY.

DITGHINGMAGHINB.

Patented-Apr. Z0, 1886.

Ma MKM (No Model.)

R. H. KERSEY. 3 Sheets Sheet 3.

DITCHING MACHINE. No. 340,128. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

N. ruins. Pmwumgmpmr. wasningm n.0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

'ROBERT H. KERSEY, OF LEBANON, INDIANA..

DlTCHlNG-NIACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,128. dated April20,1886.

Application lled October 31,1885.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. KERsEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of Boone and State of Indiana, haveinvented cert-ain new and useful Improvementsin Ditching-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of excavating machinery employed informing ditches for the reception of gas or water pipes or forland-drainage, and known as ditching-machines.77 These machines haveheretofore commonly been constructrd by applying a chain of buckets overtwo sprocket-wheels, one of which has a vertical movement to regulatethe depth of the excavations formed by the buckets, and the otherforming the driver and receiving motion from animal-power, or in somecases from steam-engines. These machines have had certain defects, amongwhich may be enumerated the use ot' the bucket as an excavator, which inclay or sticky soils will not deliver the earth it excavates promptly,as it sticks to the interior of the buckets, from which it can only beremoved by stopping the machine and digging it out; and, further, theyhave not left the ditch clean and of perfect shape ready to receive apipe or tile without cleaning and trimming by hand.

In order to avoid the above-named defects, I construct the excavatingdevice of a chain of scoops of U form in cross-section. These scoops aresomewhat larger at one end than at the other, so that when they areconnected together' they present a series of sharp cuttingedges with athroat like a carpenters plane, formed by the rear or small end of onescoop not quite filling the forward or cutting end of the next one inthe series. This chain of scoops is placed over two wheels, the smallerof which is only a carrier and receives its motion from the endlesschain of scoops and operates as a tightener-pulley to keep the chaindistended, and by means of certain devices to regulate the position ofits lower part or the portion which is cutting in the excavation. Thelarger Wheel acts not only as a carrier, but also as a driver, and mayreceive motion from any suitable motor-*such as a portable engine-bygearing direct, as shown in the drawings, form- Serial No. 181.467. (Nomodel.)

l ing a part of this specilication, or from a stationary engine or othersource of power, the Vconnection being made by a belt, wire rope, orother suitable means. This driving-wheel is constructed with flanges toretain the scoopchain in position, which flanges have notches orrecesses to engage with projections on the scoops to avoid slipping andgive a positive motion to the chain. Between the flanges, at its sides,the face of this driving-wheel is left plane from side to side, so thatwhen surrounded by the chain of scoops this plane surface completelycloses their open sides at all points Where the wheel is embraced by thechain, thus forming a continuous pocket for the excavated clay or earthfrom the point where the chain comes incontact with the periphery of thewheel at its under side to the place where it is discharged afterpassing the top, at which point a scraper is attached to the frame ofthe machine,which enters the scoops and forces their contents into thechutes, by which it is delivered on either or bot-h sides ofthe ditch,as may be desired. The shaft of the driving-wheel is carried byvbracketsattached to the engine-frame or boiler (when the machine is carrieddirectly by the engine) at such a height as to ordinarily cause theperiphery of the wheel to be above the surface of the earth at itslowestpoint. A framejournaled at one end upon the shaft of thc drivingwheelcarries at its opposite end a sprocketwheel of peculiar construction,around which the endless chain of scoops passes. I t will be evidentthat this allows the free end ofthe frame to swing upon thedriving-shaft as a pivot and to carry the scoop-chain with it, so thatif its movements were not restrained this free end of the frame and theadjacent scoops would sink into the earth until it, together with thechain, had assumed as nearly a vertical position as the carryingcapacity of the bottomless scoops would admit. Therefore, in order toregulate the depth of the cut to be made by the machine, some means mustbe devised for supporting this free end of the chain-carrying frame atany desired height relatively to the surface of the ground, and this Iaccomplish by attaching by means of radial arms to the shaft ofthe smallchain-carrying wheel at the roF free end of the swinging frame a plow orscraper which projects forward beneath the wheel alittle below thescoops. This plow scrapes vand gives to the bottom of the excavation thedesired shape, while its sides are grooved or cut away by suitablecutters attached or -formed integral with the radial armsthat'connectthe plow to the shaft of the carrying-wheel in such manneras to afford passage for said radial arms outside of the regularexcavation, the earth dislodged and loosened by these means being pickedup and carried forward by the scoops.

-Hinged to the rear of the plow by suitable connections is a guide-blockwhich rests upon the bottom of the ditch and is drawn forward with themachine. This block forms the fulcrum againstwhich the regulating-screwthat governs the vertical movements of the plow acts, said screw beingcarried through a swiveling-nnt attached to the rear ofthe plowframe,thence passes upward and is provided at its upperv end with a suitablecrank or hand wheel within easy reach of the person who guides themachine, and who is preferably seated upon a Aseat carried by theswingingV frame at one end anda support attached to the guide-block atthe other. Y

In order to enable the operatorto follow any predetermined grade whichhas been marked by suitable stakes, previously set on the line of theproposed ditch at such distances from each other as will allow the operator to see the tops or grade-marks on two or more of them at the sametime, apendulum is suspended to the frame just forward of the operatorsseat, said pendulum being provided with a transverse sight-bar. Theoperator by sighting from this bar to the tops ot' or marks upon thestakes is enabled to keep the machine upon the desired grade. Aspirit-level may also be placed upon the frame ata point where it isbeneath the operators eye, to assist'in keeping the machine in thedesired line of travel.

In order to advance the machine as the ditch is formed, I prefer toplace an anchor in advance and on the line of the proposed ditch. Tothis anchor a chain or rope is attached, which is carried to the machineand winds upon a drum pnt in motion by suitable gearing connected withthe engine which drives the excavator.

This invention therefore consists, primarily, in the combination of achain of bottomless, endless, tapering, and overlapping scoops pivotallyconnected with each other, so as to form an endless trough for cuttingand removing the excavated material with a carrying-wheel, the peripheryof which forms a bottom to those scoops in contact with it; secondly, inthe combination, with the devices just named, of the means employed toremove the earth from the scoops; thirdly, in the devices by which therear or excavating end of the chain of scoops is raised or lowered; and,finally, in certain details of ferent figures, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview' of the machine attached to a portable steam'v engine and driven bythe same. Fig. 2 isa plan, also showing the means by which the machineadvances. Fig. 3is a side view,partly in section, of the carrying-wheeland itsconnections upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a similar viewofthe driving-wheel and part of the scoop-chain, showing the means bywhich the earth is removed from the scoops. Fig. `5

is a perspective view of one of the scoops.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged detail views of different parts .of themachine. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the sight-stakes and pendulum.

In describing the machine rI shall take the style which I prefer forgeneral use-that is, the one in which the excavating apparatus ismounted upon an ordinary portable steam-- engine, and is operated, andit, as well as the engine, advanced in the desiredA line by the powerdeveloped by said engine,although itis evident the machine may bemounted upon any suitable frame and operated by animalpower, if desired.

A represents the boiler of a portable engine mounted upon suitablewheels and carrying the engine B. Secured upon the shaft of this engine,either by a key or movable clutch, as desired, is the sprocket or chainwheel C, which is connected by a vdrive-chain, a, with the chain-wheelC', secured to the outer end of the shaft D, carried in suitablebearings on brackets,D, attached to the boiler. This shaft D crosses theend of the boiler above the firedoor, and as the brackets upon which itis carried are at opposite sides of the boiler its bearing is rm,enabling it to carry upon its IOOv projectingend the drive-wheel E. Thiswheel is formed of two rims or fellies, b b, placed at such distancesapart as to receive the scoopchain F between them, and united by a band,c,which closes and covers the open side of the scoops as they passaround the wheel.

In order to make the movement of the scoopchain positive, the rims b bare provided with v notches at suitable distances apart in theirperipheries which receive the hinge-pivots or other projections upon thesides of the scoops G. ,These scoops, as shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, are of U form in cross-section, open at both endsand one side.They are of greater depthy at one end than the other, so that when aseries of them are united by the pivot-straps d, with the edges of theiropen sides in line,th'e opposite or closed side presents a series ofopenings, as a a', through which the earth passes as the scoops aredrawn forward. Once.v j

within thechain of scoops,the earth is readily carried by it up theslight ascent formed by the, inclination of the chain until it reachesthe driv`e-wh`eel E, when, as the inclination' be mes greater as thechain goes over the wheel, the band c forms a bottom to the open side ofthe scoops and prevents the escape of the inclosed earth until after itpasses over the top of the wheel,when it falls upon the chutes H, and isdelivered by them upon either or both sides of the ditch, as may bedesired.

Vhen the excavated material is wet, it has a tendency to stick to thescoops after passing the top of the wheel, and would therefore becarried beyond the chutes. To prevent this a spring scraper, H, isattached at some convenient point to the frame I, its free end enteringand resting upon the bottoms of the scoops directly over t-he chutes. Itis evident that this scraper will effectually remove all material fromtheinside of the scoops, leaving them in condition to receive anotherload as they pass through the excavation.

Journaled upon the drivingshaft on opposite sides of the wheel E is thebifurcated vertically-swinging frame I, its bifurcated end embracing thewheel and carrying the chutes and scraper,while its opposite end carriesthe shaft of the carrying-wheel E.. This wheel E consists of twoseparate and distinct disks or wheels, J, secured to each end of theshaft e, which, as before stated, revolves in a suitable bearing at theend of the swinging frame I. The periphery of these disks or wheels J ismade with plane surfaces, which receive the straight edges of thescoops, and with projecting flanges e, that enter the scoops and bytheir position with relation to t-he straps d keep the carrying-wheel inits proper position with relation to the scoopchain.

Attached to the swinging frame I and embracing the wheel E are straps g,that encircle the shaft e and hold it firmly to the swinging frame. Bymeans of the straps l1, which are pivoted to the opposite ends of theshaft e, is attached to the machine the plow or scraper' K. This plowmay be carried a certain distance below the wheel J, so as to scrape andform the bottom of the ditch, while the forward ends of t-he straps 7iproject beyond their point of attachment to the shaft e, said prcjectingends being turned outward and formed as a cutting-blade, h, in suchmanner as to cut their passage through the earth outside of the regularexcavation, thus, in conjunction with the plow K, giving a proper formto the eX cavation, while the earth displaced by both plow andtrimming-blades is carried out by the scoops.

It will be apparent that the cutters h', instead of being made integralwith the straps 71, may be formed separately and attached thereto.

In order to regulate the depth to which the machine shall excavate, ablock or sledge, L, is placed in the rear of the plow and pivotallyconnected tothe saine by straps or bars i This sledge forms the fulcrumupon which the adjusting-screw M acts, the lower end of the screw beingcarried by a crossbar, j, which extends across the space between thebars i z about mid way between the plow and the sledge, the screwextending upward and its threaded part passing through a swivelingcross-bar, Z, 7o which is provided with a suitable nut to receive thethread. This cross-bar Z connects the rear end of the straps h, whichcarry the plow. It is therefore evident that by turning the screw theplow which determines the depth of the excavation will be tipped orinclined at its point where it rests on the bottom of the ditch withrelation to the sledge, and as that rests upon the bot-tom of the ditchin the rear of the plow the predeterminedgrade of said So ditch-bottommay be maintained without regard to the inequalities of the surface.

In order to afford a convenient means of operating the regulating-screw,it is carried up a short distance above the cross-bar or nut Z, andprovided at its upper end with a suitable crank or hand wheel, which maybe readily manipulated by the operator seated upon the seat N, carriedupon the rear ends of the bars O O, which are pivoted at their forwardends gc to the frame I and supported at the rear by the adjustablesupport P, the lower end of which is carried by the cross-barj, and itsupder end made vertically adjustable in the clamp in, which connects therear ends of the bars O.

In order to enable the operator upon the seat N to follow the grade ofany line of ditch which may have been properly staked out, a pendulum,R, is hung upon a rod, n, passing Ico through the bars O O in front ofthe operators seat. This pendulum is provided with a sight-bar, p,passing through it transversely about on a level with the eyes of theoperator as lie occupies the seat N. It will be evidentelog that if thissight-bar is kept in line with the tops of the grade-stakes Qas themachine advances the bottom of the ditch will correspond with said line.

If desired, spirit-levels, as s, may be placed I Io on the Sledge L, orother parts of the machine, to aid in determining the grade upon whichthe machine is advancing.

It is evident that the forward 1nove1n'eiit"of"\ the machine may becommunicated thereto in IIS many ways7 but I prefer that shown in thedrawings, in which a stake or anchor, T, is xed at any desired point inadvance of the machine, and a chain or wire rope, a", attached thereto,the opposite end of which is brought to the sprocket wheel or spool a,mounted upon the shaft a. This shaft is turned through the agency of theworm-gear c, secured on said shaft, and the screw c on the shaft fw,which receives motion from the engine-shaft through the bevel-gears .frzr or their equivalents.

Vhen it is desired to remove the machine from place to place, its rearend may be carried upon the caster-wheel y, (shown in dotted lines inFig. 1,) the shank y of which is passed 130 through the opening abetween two buckets, and thence through suitable orifices in theextremities of two arms, z f1, secured to the rear end of the frame Iwithin the wheel E', the

drive-chain a, which connects the motor with the excavating apparatus,being of course re- I am aware that excavatingmachines have beeninvented in which chains of scoops and Scrapers of various forms wereused, one of v them having scoops open at one sideand both ends, butwhen in use provided with a remov-y able bottom carried by aseparatebelt or chain, and that a scraper was used to clear suc-h scoops oftheir contents; but I am not aware that any chain of scoops like mine,open at both ends and one side, one end of each made smaller than theother, so as to enter thek large end of the next adjacent scoop, thusforming, when pivoted together, a continuous trough to carry theexcavated material up an incline Without the aid of bottoms or otherequivalent devices to retain the material Within said scoops has everpreviously been constructed. Neither could spring Scrapers like mine bensed with any chain having intervals between its scoops, as the Scraperswould`enter such intervals and stop the further working of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, the following:

l. Asanimprovementinditching-machines, the bottomless and endless scoopsG, having a U-shaped cross-section smaller at one 'end than the otherand united by pivotal connections to form a continuons chain or trough,substantially as shown and described. Y

2. The series of bottomless, endless, and ta pering scoops nnitedbypivotal connection, forming an endless and continuous trough, incombination with the wheel E, which closes the open side of the scoopsduring the time their contents are in contact-with the periphery of saidwheel While being elevated to the discharging-point, as set forth.

3. The continuous chain of bottomless and endless tapering andoverlapping scoops, in combination with the springscraper arrangedandoperating substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The continuous chain of bottomless, endless, and overlapping scoops,in combination with the springscraper and dischargingchutes arranged todischarge the earth upon one or both sides of the ditch, and operatingconjointly, in the manner specified.

5. In a ditching-machine, the sprocket driving-wheel E, provided withrecessed iianges, b b, and connecting web or bottom c, arranged to carrythe scoop-chain and form a bottom for. its open side while thechainis incontact with the wheel, as set forth.

6. The scoopchain or trough F, in combi- -nation with the wheels E E',constructed as described, and inclined bifnrcated swinging frame I,extending between the wheels and forming a support for "thespring-scraper and discharging-chntes,as set forth. l

. 7. The combination, with the scoop-chain and its supporting devices,orf the vertic'zally-` adjustable plow K, bars h, sWiveling-nut, and adjusting-screw, Vconstructed and arranged to carryand adj ust the plow andshape the bot- 7o 4 tom of the ditch, as set forth.

8. The combination, with the scoop-chain l and plow K, oi' the strapsorbars h, provided with cutters h', for trimming the sides and edges fmechanism, in combination with the adjusting devices, a pendulumprovided with a sightbar, and a spirit level 0r levels attached to themachine to aid in keeping the predetermined line and to show theinclination or grade of the bottom of the ditch as excavated.

11. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the swinging frameprovided at its rear end with arms z'z, of the removable castersaidarms, in the manner and for the purpose described. Y

12. The plow Kprovi'ded with straps h h, having swiveled cross-bar Z,adjusting-screw M, cross-bar j, bars i i, and sledge L, as shown anddescribed, for changing the inclination of its point, in combinationwith a spirit-level yfor determining the amount and direction of moywheel y, having shank y', for connection with

